tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:/observations/denniswrossiNaturalist.org &#58; Observations by denniswross2015-03-29T10:42:37-07:00http://www.inaturalist.org/assets/favicon-a6c7047cef5d4deab4f3199161259cc9.pngtag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13476932015-03-29T10:42:37-07:002015-03-29T10:42:41-07:00Black Locustdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1667374/medium.jpg?1427650962" alt="Medium" /></p>42.547358 -88.519413tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13428362015-03-27T09:39:28-07:002015-03-27T09:39:40-07:00scatdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1661741/medium.jpg?1427474397" alt="Medium" /></p><p>I see tracks nearby, ? Raccoon</p>42.5476416667 -88.5193466667tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13428352015-03-27T09:39:27-07:002015-03-27T09:39:47-07:00deerdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1661743/medium.jpg?1427474407" alt="Medium" /></p>42.5471533333 -88.5193033333tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13428342015-03-27T09:39:56-07:002015-03-28T11:58:16-07:00tracks, ? raccoondenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1661742/medium.jpg?1427474399" alt="Medium" /></p>42.5472916667 -88.5195916667tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13428292015-03-27T09:37:05-07:002015-03-27T09:39:27-07:00toothed wortdenniswross35.038399 -83.963995tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13344612015-03-23T17:24:40-07:002015-03-25T04:11:08-07:00Great Mulleindenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1651597/medium.JPG?1427156692" alt="Medium" /></p><p>Early spring plant in our meadow</p>36.873836 -80.297656tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13344512015-03-23T17:22:18-07:002015-03-24T21:36:21-07:00Garter Snakesdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1651585/medium.JPG?1427156561" alt="Medium" /></p><p>This snake was dead on a small road. I cannot see the injury. I have preserved it and will examine more closely under dissection</p>36.674025 -80.438674tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13344332015-03-23T17:17:55-07:002015-03-23T18:39:48-07:00Common Land Snails and Slugsdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1651563/medium.JPG?1427156282" alt="Medium" /> <img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1651564/medium.JPG?1427156285" alt="Medium" /> <img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1651830/medium.JPG?1427161163" alt="Medium" /> <img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1651831/medium.JPG?1427161165" alt="Medium" /></p><p>I found this small, ? snail, at the junction of the leaf debris and earth. I am not sure if the shell which was common in the same area is the same organism.</p>36.674025 -80.438674tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13344112015-03-23T17:05:20-07:002015-03-23T17:49:47-07:00bloodrootdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1651528/medium.jpg?1427155525" alt="Medium" /></p><p>Early signs of Spring, lower on the mountain.</p>36.674025 -80.438674tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13056422015-03-20T08:52:42-07:002015-03-20T08:52:44-07:00Fungusdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1638909/medium.jpg?1426866772" alt="Medium" /> <img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1638910/medium.JPG?1426866778" alt="Medium" /></p><p>This fungus looks like dripping plaster or sparkling compound spilled and dripping down the tree stump.</p>36.873853 -80.297699tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13056402015-03-20T08:50:00-07:002015-03-20T08:50:01-07:00Earthworms and relativesdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1638907/medium.JPG?1426866622" alt="Medium" /></p><p>A number of these earthworms are crawling across my gravel driveway this morning, all moving in the same direction. It has been warm earlier in the week, but cold and wet, around 34F for the last 36 hrs.</p>36.873853 -80.297699tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13044832015-03-19T16:40:03-07:002015-03-19T16:40:04-07:00Abies balsameadenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1637246/medium.jpg?1426808412" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>36.873888 -80.297785tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13044802015-03-19T16:38:46-07:002015-03-19T16:38:47-07:00Picea pungensdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1637236/medium.jpg?1426808331" alt="Medium" /></p><p>A grove of about 60 spruce were planted about 30 years ago, probably for Christmas trees. They are now a small mature dense spruce island which is host to many animals and birds.</p>36.873888 -80.297785tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13044582015-03-19T16:36:57-07:002015-03-19T16:41:12-07:00mammalsdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1637252/medium.JPG?1426808473" alt="Medium" /></p><p>This scat was in the middle of a trail. It does not contain visible fur. Probably dog?</p>36.873888 -80.297785tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/13043782015-03-19T15:59:47-07:002015-03-19T18:26:38-07:00skunk cabbagedenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1637074/medium.JPG?1426805994" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>36.873991 -80.297527tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12736842015-03-05T15:58:53-08:002015-03-05T16:04:11-08:00Chinese Chestnutdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1597706/medium.JPG?1425600226" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>35.03953 -83.963516tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12736832015-03-05T15:58:11-08:002015-03-05T15:58:12-08:00eastern red cedardenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1597701/medium.JPG?1425599986" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>35.03953 -83.963516tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12736812015-03-05T15:56:57-08:002015-03-05T15:56:58-08:00Thuja occidentalisdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1597699/medium.JPG?1425599826" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>35.0884738735 -84.0433985612tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12736802015-03-05T15:55:00-08:002015-03-05T15:55:01-08:00Norway Sprucedenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1597698/medium.JPG?1425599710" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>35.03953 -83.963516tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12715862015-03-04T14:57:07-08:002015-03-23T06:49:48-07:00White Pinedenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1595182/medium.jpg?1425509926" alt="Medium" /></p><p>I do not know the cause of these 'collars' that go around the trunk of this white pine. I did not see this on other nearby trees.</p>35.0073536521 -83.9019827273tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12715822015-03-04T14:56:38-08:002015-03-04T14:56:38-08:00cliff saxifragedenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1595178/medium.JPG?1425509807" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>35.346332 -84.057687tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12715722015-03-04T14:51:52-08:002015-03-04T14:51:53-08:00fungusdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1595166/medium.JPG?1425509552" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>35.373696 -83.975462tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12715672015-03-04T14:51:51-08:002015-03-04T16:43:35-08:00Leucothoe fontanesianadenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1595161/medium.JPG?1425509525" alt="Medium" /></p><p>Start of a day hike into Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness</p>35.373696 -83.975462tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12675522015-03-02T17:51:40-08:002015-03-03T19:42:07-08:00Chickendenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1590862/medium.JPG?1425347534" alt="Medium" /></p><p>chickens in the garden as the old compost is turned preparing a new bed</p>35.03953 -83.956849tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12665942015-03-02T09:10:22-08:002015-03-08T14:55:07-07:00White-throated Sparrowdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1590859/medium.JPG?1425347420" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>36.87763 -80.283194tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12665932015-03-02T09:11:20-08:002015-03-02T15:52:41-08:00Beard Lichensdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1589688/medium.jpg?1425316336" alt="Medium" /></p><p>Old man's beard</p>35.0394528333 -83.9638583333tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12593652015-02-26T15:00:49-08:002015-03-02T04:11:45-08:00Field Cricketdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1581128/medium.jpg?1424991685" alt="Medium" /></p><p></p>36.874094 -80.297785tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12593422015-02-26T14:46:16-08:002015-03-01T15:08:05-08:00Common Yellowjacketdenniswross<p><img src="http://static.inaturalist.org/photos/1581112/medium.JPG?1424990783" alt="Medium" /></p><p>Yellow jacket nest in the ground dug up by a bear.</p>36.874094 -80.297785tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12592632015-02-26T13:57:49-08:002015-02-26T13:57:49-08:00Big Brown Batdenniswross<p>Hi Dennis,
<br>Thanks for the note. I remember you, and the bat corpse! You probably do have big brown bats on the move during the winter. Unfortunately, it's due to loss of fat reserves due to WNS. I know that wildlife rehabbers in the state are getting ALOT more bats this year than in previous years. My guess is that the big brown bats are moving out of their hibernacula (caves, attics, etc.) to feed, and then using some old day roosts, like your bat box, for a day here and there. It's not surprising that you are finding scat. It's just too bad that they are using the bat box, as it's less climate controlled than their hibernacula options. At the same time, it's a better, safer option for them vs. more exposed options. There's nothing you need to do - the bats will move if they get too cold, and hopefully go back to their long-term resting areas. The less we disturb them, the better. We just keep our fingers crossed, and hope they can make it through this awfully cold, snowy time.
<br>Cheers,
<br>Karen</p>
<p>____________________________________________
<br>Karen E. (Francl) Powers, Ph.D.
<br>Associate Professor, Biology
<br>235 Curie
<br>Box 6931
<br>Radford University
<br>Radford, VA 24142
<br>(540) 831-6537 (office); (540) 831-5129 (fax)
<br>________________________________________
<br>From: Ross Dennis [<a href="mailto:forensicbotanist@gmail.com">forensicbotanist@gmail.com</a>]
<br>Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 4:51 PM
<br>To: Powers, Karen
<br>Subject: Big brown bats -- not migrating?</p>
<p>Karen,</p>
<p>We have met several times at the Mt Rogers Naturalists’ Rally. Last spring I showed you a corpse of a bat which you identified as a Big Brown. A small colony (up to 15 individuals) spends summers in a ‘bat box’ under the eaves of my house near Floyd, VA. I take note of their approximate arrival and departure each year. This year they left around the end of October 2014. This is when I last saw them, and when I no longer need to sweep up their scat.</p>
<p>However, around December I began noting scat in smaller quantities but identical to what I normally see in summer. I have noted scat accumulating irregularly, but continuing throughout the winter to the present. Dis-aggregating the scat with a sharp needle suggests insect parts when viewed with a magnifying glass.
<br>I have not seen any bats. I have avoided disturbing the bat box (i.e. climbing a ladder to open it up and look in). You have instructed me in how sensitive bats are to be disturbed during hibernation.</p>
<p>My questions: I did not think the Big Brown bat would ‘hibernate’ in its summer location.
<br> Do bats defecate during hibernation?
<br> Am I mistaking mouse droppings for bat droppings? There are none in the house where I would expect mice, and none except under the bat box.</p>
<p>Other than continued observation, is there anything that you recommend I do. I am glad to send you samples or show the bat box to you or one of your students.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Dennis Ross MD, PhD — retired professor of Pathology UNC</p>36.873973 -80.297699tag:www.inaturalist.org,2005:Observation/12493072015-02-21T04:56:12-08:002015-02-21T04:56:12-08:00Chipping Sparrowdenniswross<p>One snow covered wintry day at the bird feeder</p>36.873991 -80.297613